05 September 2016, Lagos – The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that concrete walls erected by some Tank farm companies has permanently blocked the natural water ways at Liverpool Community Development Association in Ijegun Egba in Oriade Local Council Development Area, Satellite Town, resulting in flooding and other environmental degradation in the area.
This was contained in a letter by General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele, to the Chairman of Liverpool Estate CDA in response to a by the CDA to LASEMA in respect of the impact of the activities of the Tank farms on the environment in the area.
The LASEMA GM noted that an Operational Team of LASEMA had earlier visited the site, after which the Monitoring and Surveillance Team of the agency revisited the community, following a letter received from the CDA dated August 10, 2016.
Based on the visits, Akindele said the following discoveries were made: “That truly some conglomerates of Tank farm companies have acquired a vast piece of land, which has been fortified with concrete walls to protect their investments.
“The monitoring team also discovered that the concrete walls erected by the companies have permanently blocked the natural water ways which has resulted to surface flooding, dampness and stagnant polluted water within the estate as a result of rain fall.”
In view of the findings, the LASEMA boss advised the chairman of the Liverpool Estate CDA to forward the association’s complaints to Lagos State Ministry of Environment for further necessary action.
The Liverpool Estate CDA had earlier petitioned LASEMA expressing the “deep grief and pain caused by the tank farms numbering about seven (7) with four (4) more in view” to the residents of the estate.
In the letter signed by the CDA’s chairman, Engr. Onwunere Kenneth, the association listed problems created by the tank farms to include: Blocking all drainage channels that could take and discharge water to the lagoon; The only road, Mumuni Adio Badmus, has very small drains that are grossly undersized to harvest storm water; All adjourning drains within the estate had been blocked with concrete walls making the estate flooded capable of causing epidemic; In the event of fire, they don’t have fire-fighting facilities which further endanger lives and property in the community; Unbearable traffic jam due to tankers lifting oil, leaving the area filthy and dirty.
The association therefore demanded: “Immediate dismantling of all the concrete structures blocking the free flow of water; Proper drainage channel be built to accommodate the community and; Urgent installation of fire-fighting facilities at three locations along Mumuni Adio Badmus Road in case of fire.
- Vanguard
